Briefs

February 22, 2007

NBAGrand jury indicts two Pacers in bar fight Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley and teammate Marquis Daniels were charged Wednesday in a Feb. 6 bar fight. A Marion County grand jury indicted Tinsley on a felony charge of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and intimidation for the fight at 8 Seconds Saloon, said Matthew Symons, spokesman for the Marion County prosecutor. Daniels was charged with battery and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, Symons said. Tinsley and Daniels were expected to surrender to authorities Wednesday night or early Thursday, Symons said. The Pacers play a home game Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. MLBSheffield's bat is just what the Tigers need Gary Sheffield knew the New York Yankees were going to trade him. The nine-time All-Star just didn't think he was going to end up in Detroit. Sheffield, who was acquired by the Tigers in November for three pitching prospects, wasn't expecting the move to Detroit because he didn't envision himself as a designated hitter but the well-traveled veteran is warming to the idea as he prepares for his first season in the AL Central. "I didn't consider myself a DH, so I really didn't look at that situation," Sheffield said Wednesday morning before his first workout with the Tigers. "I said, 'I'm an outfielder.' I looked at the Cubs, Houston and teams like that. I looked at Boston, but I knew they weren't going to trade me there, and the Mets. I thought all of those were fits, then Detroit called and told me I was DHing. "I said, 'I'll do it. That just means less work.' I've done it a couple times, but it's not something I'm familiar with." Sheffield left the Yankees with what he wanted: a $28 million contract extension through 2009 and a promise that he wouldn't play first base. GOLFFirst PGA Tour event in Mexico opens The first PGA Tour event in Mexico doesn't have Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or the prestige of the Match Play Championship that also is being held this weekend. Instead, it boasts the "Devil's Mouth." Known as a "cenote," it's the first of many natural delights found on El Camaleon, the Greg Norman-designed venue for this slice of PGA Tour history, the Mayakoba Golf Classic, which opens Thursday. "It gives character right away," Norman said. "It's an opening statement: 'Here it is!"' Although the world's top 64 players are in Arizona, the field for this event includes more than 40 PGA Tour winners. Those guys have combined for 148 victories, including nine majors, two by Lee Janzen. "This probably already is or is going to be the biggest tournament, the most important tournament, in Latin America," said Carlos Franco of Paraguay. GENERALRenowned sports photographer dies Sports photographer Richard Raphael, who covered all 41 Super Bowls and shot nine Sports Illustrated magazine covers, has died after a sudden illness. He was 68. Raphael died at his home Saturday, funeral officials said. Raphael was hardly confined to high-profile professional sports. He told The Boston Globe in a 1997 interview that he had shot "every sport you can think of, including lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, crew, soccer, pingpong, squash, indoor and outdoor track and cross country, sailing, golf and others." Even though his work schedule had been scaled back in recent years, he still shot the Super Bowl in Miami earlier this month between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, making him one of just five photographers to shoot all 41 championship games. COLLEGEIllinois' Chief Illiniwek to perform last time As the University of Illinois' controversial American Indian mascot readied Wednesday to perform his last dance, men who have previously portrayed Chief Illiniwek said they are working to see that the tradition lives on in some form. The mascot, whose fate was decided by school officials last week, will take center stage at Assembly Hall for one last performance during Wednesday night's men's basketball game between Illinois and Michigan. Former chief Steve Raquel said he and other chiefs past and present hope to talk to the university about keeping the chief alive in some form.